Emerging in the current season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Mighty Mutanimals are a group of mutants formed by reporter Jack Kurtzman (a homage to Jack Kirby, whose birth name was Jacob Kurtzberg) to combat the invading Kraang from Dimension X. The team is the latest in a series of Mutanimals dating back to 1991 created for the Archie Comics’ Ninja Turtles license using mostly supporting characters developed for the toyline and adapted for the animated series.

In previous seasons of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the series’ heroes have faced invaders from Dimension X, mutants spawned by the Kraang’s mutagen, and ninjas from the malevolent Foot Clan lead by the Shredder. Announced at San Diego Comic-Con International 2015, the Turtles’ world is about to expand as they face new alien threats in its upcoming fifth season.

This November, DC Comics and IDW Publishing are teaming up for a crossover comic book mini-series seeing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles come to Gotham City and join alongside the Dark Knight in Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.